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Straight answers about trees, rules and costs.
Written by our team and checked against the council, state and industry sources we link to. Council rules · Safety · Neighbours · Storms · Costs.
Tree rules compared: every council we cover
Height and trunk triggers, distance-from-house exemptions, fees and processing times, side by side.
OpenWhich trees can you remove without a permit?
Every council’s exempt species list in one table: cocos palm, camphor laurel, liquidambar, privet and more.
Open
The 10/50 rule explained
What the NSW 10/50 bushfire clearing rule really allows, how to check if it applies to your home, and the exclusions that catch people out.
30 September 2026
Can I remove a tree on my property without council approval?
Height, trunk size, distance from the house, exempt species: what decides whether your tree needs a permit in Sydney, and why the answer changes at every council boundary.
30 September 2026
How to choose a tree removal company (and avoid the cowboys)
Qualifications, insurance, the new SafeWork NSW tree work code, council approval and the door-knocker warning signs: what to check before anyone climbs your tree.
30 September 2026
Do I need approval to remove a dead or dangerous tree?
Dead, dying and dangerous trees can often be removed without a permit, but only when the council is satisfied, and most councils want evidence first or afterwards.
30 September 2026
What are the fines for removing a tree without approval in NSW?
On-the-spot fines, court penalties, replacement orders and real cases from Sydney councils, and why the '$1.1 million' figure you see online is out of date.
30 September 2026
My neighbour's tree: overhanging branches, roots and hedges in NSW
What you can cut yourself, when you need council approval, how the Land and Environment Court handles tree disputes, and the 2.5 m hedge rule.
30 September 2026
Is my tree dangerous? Ten warning signs
The signs arborists look for before a tree fails, from lifting root plates and new leans to cracks, fungi and split unions, and when to call someone.
30 September 2026
Trees in strata: who's responsible, and who decides?
Owners corporation duties for trees on common property, exclusive-use courtyards, special resolutions, council permits and strata disputes in NSW.
30 September 2026
A tree fell in a storm: what to do, step by step
What to do in the first hour after a tree comes down: safety, power lines, the SES, photos for insurance, council trees and who pays.
30 September 2026
How much does tree removal cost in Sydney?
What drives the price of removing a tree: height, access, what's underneath, cranes, stumps, council paperwork. Plus what a fair quote should include.
30 September 2026
Trees near power lines: who's responsible?
Who trims trees near the service wire to your house, who looks after the street lines, the 3 m rule for homeowners, and what to do when a tree comes down on a line.
30 September 2026
What's in an arborist report, and when do you need one?
When councils ask for an arborist report, what AQF Level 5 means, what a good report contains, and the councils that insist it comes from an independent consultant.
30 September 2026Got a question we haven't answered?
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